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First Saturday at the Refuge

          Saturday, December 4th dawned sunny and cool, as F&WS staff and Friends group volunteers gathered at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.  We were there for our first ever "First Saturday at the Refuge" event and for our very first Holiday Sale at The Gator Hole.  Our theme was "Decorating your Yard for the Holidays for Wildlife" and it was a roaring success.  Over 100 people (most of them kids) enjoyed the opportunity to make bird feeders out of 2-liter drink bottles, pine cones, and sugar ice cream cones.  Other actives included bird food wreath making, oyster shell ornaments, and button making.

We also posted sales of over $1200 at The Gator Hole as folks took advantage of the 20% off sale to stock up on holiday gifts.

Many thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited for making up bags of seed to give to the kids who made bird feeders and to Ogeechee Audubon for providing volunteers.  We could not have put on this great event without the help of F&WS staff Monica Harris, Amy Ochoa, and Zac Gohsman and Audubon and Friends volunteers Hunter Hurst, Dot Bambach, Arnie Weisbrot, Elly Weisbrot, Sharon Spector, Jaynne Reichert, Jennifer Fell, Pat Wolters, Jessica Aldridge, Twila Gray, Walt Stein, and Sandy Stein.

  

Coming off this success, we hope to make "First Saturday" a regular event at Savannah NWR and start such programs at Harris Neck and Pinckney Island NWR's.  If you would like to help, or have ideas on projects for the future, please contact me or Monica Harris.

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Disappointing News about Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive:

          The projected re-opening date for Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive has been pushed back to June, 2011.  The original date was January, 2011, but those plans called for the Drive to close again for another six months in July, 2011.  At least now, once the Drive reopens in June, it will not close again.  Watch for news about the grand re-opening.  The Drive will need a lot of fixing up before it can open to the public again, and we will be asking for your help both in the clean up and for the public celebration that will mark the event.

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Welcome New Friends Group Members!

          A big Friends group welcome to Marilyn Shaw for her new family membership and donation at the "Supporter" level; to Beth McGown and Russ Toal for their family membership and "Supporter" donation, and to Mary Burdsal and Deborah Bennett for their family membership.

          We have also received membership renewals for Hunter and Barbara Hurst (and a "Supporter" donation), and for Brian and Julie Jarrard, Michael and Jennifer Fell, Neil and Jessica Aldridge, and for Margaret Innis and John Galvani.

           Thanks also to Dennis and Francine Baer for their donation again this year which qualifies for a matching grant from the Coca Cola Company Matching Gifts program.  Check with your employer to see if your donation may qualify for a matching gift.

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How about you?

        Friends Group memberships are based on calendar years, so now is the time to renew your membership for 2011.  If you are up for renewal, you will soon be receiving a reminder.  You can also renew on the website using PayPal, or send us a check at the address below (that saves us the PayPal surcharge).

Not a member?  Choose your membership level and from the list below and send in your check.  Membership dues are tax deductible.

Giving a gift membership is also a great gift idea for those tough-to-shop-for on your list.

Individual           $15 per year. 

Family                $25 per year

Supporter Level  $100-249 (with one year family membership for each $100)

Sponsor Level    $ 250-$499 ( with one year Family membership for each $100)  

Patron Level      $ 500-$999 (includes Life membership)

Benefactor Level $ $1000 or more (includes Life membership)

Download our membership application HERE.

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Harbor Deepening:

          The US Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled two public presentations to discuss the recently-released Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Savannah harbor deepening.

          The first is on December 14th at 0900 at the Mighty Eighth Airforce Museum and will present the Economics Analysis.  A more general overview of the statement will be presented on December 15th at 4:00 PM at the Savannah Civic Center.

          This project promises to have a major negative impact on our region and on the Savannah NWR in particular, threatening to destroy as much as 10% of the remaining 3000 acres of fresh water marsh on the refuge.  I would encourage anyone with an interest to attend one or both of these events.